Inventory management system

ABSTRACT

An inventory management system includes a floor-based weighing subsystem and a load status subsystem. The floor-based weighing subsystem includes a sensor arrangement that includes at least one weight sensor functionally associated with a load carrying unit that supports a load having an associated weight. The load carrying unit is deployed at the floor of a retail display area, and the weight sensor determines the weight of the load. A load status determination engine of the load status subsystem receives, from the floor-based weighing subsystem, the weight of the load determined by the weight sensor, and determines a loading status of the load carrying unit based on the received weight of the load.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to systems for managing inventory ofmerchandise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In sales of consumer merchandise in retail locations, such as grocerystores, the merchandise is typically displayed on shelving units forremoval by customers during shopping. Certain items arrive via deliveryon load carrying units, such as, for example, shipping pallets, and aremanually removed from the load carrying units and placed on the shelvingunits. Such load carrying units 30, implemented, for example, in FIGS.1A-1D as various shipping pallets and dollies, provide a generally flattransport structure which can support a stacked configuration ofmerchandise 40, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in a stable mannerduring transporting and unloading. To conserve shelf space, the loadcarrying units may be placed in a retail display area on the salesfloor, so that the merchandise is displayed on the load carrying unitfor removal by customers during shopping. However, tracking the stocksituation of the merchandise displayed on load carrying units requiresmanual inspection by employees of the retail store, reducing theefficiency of merchandise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system and corresponding components forproviding functionality for managing inventory of merchandise.

According to the teachings of an embodiment of the present invention,there is provided an inventory management system. The inventorymanagement system comprises: a floor-based weighing subsystem comprisinga sensor arrangement including at least one weight sensor functionallyassociated with a load carrying unit supporting a load having anassociated weight, the load carrying unit deployed at the floor of aretail display area, and the weight sensor determining the weight of theload; and a load status subsystem comprising a load status determinationengine including at least one processor coupled to a storage medium, theload status determination engine configured to: receive, from thefloor-based weighing subsystem, the weight of the load determined by theweight sensor, and determine a loading status of the load carrying unitbased on the received weight of the load.

Optionally, the load status determination engine is further configuredto: send a request to replace the load carrying unit in response to atleast one event, the at least one event including the determined loadingstatus of the load carrying unit satisfying a threshold criterion.

Optionally, the load status determination engine is further configuredto: determine a load depletion rate based on the determined loadingstatus.

Optionally, the at least one event further includes the load depletionrate satisfying a threshold criterion.

Optionally, the at least one event is derived from at least one oftemporal data associated with the retail display area, temporal dataassociated with the location of the retail display area, and occupancyof the retail display area.

Optionally, the weight sensor is carried by a surface of the loadcarrying unit.

Optionally, the surface of the load carrying unit is a furthest surfaceof the load carrying unit from the floor.

Optionally, the surface of the load carrying unit is a nearest surfaceof the load carrying unit to the floor.

Optionally, at least one surface of the load carrying unit is positionedin a recess in the floor, the recess defined in part by a recesssurface.

Optionally, the weight sensor is interposed between the recess surfaceand the at least one surface of the load carrying unit.

Optionally, the weight sensor is positioned outside of the recess.

Optionally, the weight sensor is positioned in a recess in the floordefined in part by a recess surface.

Optionally, the inventory management system further comprises: astocking and control subsystem configured to receive, from the loadstatus subsystem, an actuation command to take at least one action inresponse to the determined loading status of the load carrying unit.

Optionally, the inventory management system further comprises a databasestoring weight information associated with the load and the loadcarrying unit. Optionally, the weight information associated with theload carrying unit includes an unloaded weight of the load carrying unitand a fully-loaded weight of the load carrying unit.

Optionally, the weight information associated with the load includes alist of load types, and for each load type, a mapping between weight anda number of units of the load.

Optionally, the load status determination engine is further configuredto: receive, from the database, weight information associated with theload and the load carrying unit.

Optionally, the weight information associated with the load carryingunit includes an unloaded weight of the load carrying unit and afully-loaded weight of the load carrying unit, and the loading status ofthe load carrying unit determined, by the load status determinationengine, as a percentage of remaining load supported by the load carryingunit based on the unloaded weight and the fully-loaded weight of theload carrying unit.

Optionally, the weight information associated with the load includes alist of load types, and for each load type, a mapping between weight anda number of units of the load, and the loading status of the loadcarrying unit determined, by the load status determination engine, bycorrelating the weight of the load with the number of units of the loadbased on the mapping.

Optionally, the load includes a bottled beverage product.

There is also provided according to an embodiment of the teachings ofthe present invention a method for managing inventory. The methodcomprises: deploying a load carrying unit at the floor of a retaildisplay area, the load carrying unit supporting a load having anassociated weight; determining, by at least one weight sensorfunctionally associated with the load carrying unit, the associatedweight of the load; receiving the weight of the load determined by theat least one sensor; and determining a loading status of the loadcarrying unit based on the received weight of the load.

Optionally, the method further comprises: sending a request to replacethe load carrying unit in response to at least one event, the at leastone event including the determined loading status of the load carryingunit satisfying a threshold criterion.

There is also provided according to an embodiment of the teachings ofthe present invention an inventory management system. The inventorymanagement system comprises: a load carrying unit deployed at the floorof a retail display area, the load carrying unit supporting a loadhaving an associated weight; a sensor arrangement including at least oneweight sensor functionally associated with the load carrying unit, theweight sensor determining the weight of the load; and a load statussubsystem comprising a load status determination engine including atleast one processor coupled to a storage medium, the load statusdetermination engine configured to: receive, from the floor-basedweighing subsystem, the weight of the load determined by the weightsensor, and determine a loading status of the load carrying unit basedon the received weight of the load.

Unless otherwise defined herein, all technical and/or scientific termsused herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Althoughmethods and materials similar or equivalent to those described hereinmay be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention,exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case ofconflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control.

In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative onlyand are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are herein described, by wayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Withspecific reference to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

Attention is now directed to the drawings, where like reference numeralsor characters indicate corresponding or like components. In thedrawings:

FIGS. 1A-1D are functional representations of various implementations ofa load carrying unit, as known in the prior art, used for transportingand supporting a load of merchandise;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are functional representations of a load carrying unit,similar to the load carrying unit of FIG. 1C, supporting a load ofmerchandise;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a retail store with which aninventory management system according to an embodiment of the inventioncan be used;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an inventory management system thatincludes a weighing subsystem, a load status subsystem, and a stockingand control subsystem, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a networked environment in which theinventory management system according to an embodiment of the inventionis deployed;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a weight sensor of the weighingsubsystem retained in a housing;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating a load carrying unitsupporting a load of merchandise, similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view illustrating a load carrying unitdeployed on a floor of a retail display area and carrying the weightsensor of the weighing subsystem on an upper surface of the loadcarrying unit, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating a load carrying unitdeployed on a floor of a retail display area and carrying the weightsensor of the weighing subsystem under a lower surface of the loadcarrying unit, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a load carrying unitdeployed in a recess of a floor of a retail display area and carryingthe weight sensor of the weighing subsystem on an upper surface of theload carrying unit, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view illustrating a load carrying unitdeployed in a recess of a floor of a retail display area and carryingthe weight sensor of the weighing subsystem under a lower surface of theload carrying unit, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view illustrating the weight sensor of theweighing subsystem positioned in a recess of a floor of a retail displayarea and a load carrying unit positioned on top of the sensorarrangement, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a table depicting information related to the load carryingunit and the load of merchandise supported by the load carrying unit,according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 14-16 are flow diagrams illustrating processes to manageinventory, according to embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a plurality of weighing subsystems, eachlinked to the load status subsystem and the stocking and controlsubsystem, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a system and corresponding components forproviding functionality for managing inventory of merchandise.

The principles and operation of the system according to the presentinvention may be better understood with reference to the drawingsaccompanying the description.

The present invention is applicable for use with various types of retailenvironments, and is of particular when used or implemented in a retailstore 70, for example, a grocery stores, having a retail display area 74on a sales floor 72, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The present invention isalso applicable for use with various types of merchandise and productswhich can be delivered in delivery vessels (e.g., shipping pallets,crates, boxes, etc.) via, for example, delivery trucks, and displayed onthe sales floor on a load carrying unit in a retail display area, fordirect removal by customers. Such types of merchandise include, but arenot limited to, boxed goods (e.g., breakfast cereals), bulk householditems (e.g., toilet paper and paper towels), flour, sugar, diapers, andother types of products which can be easily removed by a customer. Thepresent invention is of particular value when the merchandise is abottled beverage product, such as a soft drink, which arrives in largeunits, for example boxes or cases of six or more bottles of liquid of1.5 or 2 liters.

Within the context of this document, the term “load carrying unit”generally refers to any device or structure that provides a generallyflat transport structure which can support a load, for example,merchandise 40, in a stable manner during transporting and unloading.Examples of load carrying units include, but are not limited to,pallets, such as, for example, the pallets illustrated in FIGS. 1A and1B, dollies, such as, for example, the dolly illustrated in FIG. 1C,pallet-dolly combinations, such as, for example, the pallet-dollyillustrated in FIG. 1D, crates, boxes, and any stable combined stackedconfiguration thereof, for example, a pallet stacked on top of a dolly.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways. Initially, throughout this document, references are madeto directions such as, for example, top and bottom, upper and lower, andthe like. These directional references are exemplary only to illustratethe invention and embodiments thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and with continued reference to FIGS.1-3, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a system, generally designated 10,that provides functionality for managing inventory of a load ofmerchandise 40 supported and displayed on a load carrying unit 30deployed in the retail display area 74 on the sales floor 72 of a retailstore 70. Generally speaking, the system 10 includes a weighingsubsystem 100, a load status subsystem 200, and a stocking and controlsubsystem 300. The components of the system 10 operate to periodicallyor intermittently determine a loading status of the load carrying unit30 as customers remove the merchandise 40 from the load carrying unit30.

The weighing subsystem 100, the load status subsystem 200, and thestocking and control subsystem 300 are linked to each other via acommunication network which may be wireless or wired. FIG. 5 shows anillustrative example environment in which embodiments of the system 10of the present disclosure may be performed over such a communicationnetwork, generally designated as network 20. The network 20 may beformed of one or more networks, including for example, the Internet,cellular networks, wide area, public, and local networks.

According to certain embodiments, the major components of the system 10are located in separate geographic areas. For example, the weighingsubsystem 100 or components thereof may be removably interfaced with theload carrying unit 30 or integrated as part of the load carrying unit 30such that it is carried by the load carrying unit 30, and may thereforetravel and move with the load carrying unit 30, while the load statussubsystem 200 may be deployed in a managing office of the retail store70 at which the load carrying unit 30 is displayed, and the stocking andcontrol subsystem 300 may be deployed in a central office for managinginventory and supply chain. In other embodiments, one or more componentsof the system 10 may be co-located with each other. For example, theload status subsystem 200 and the stocking and control subsystem 300 maybe deployed in a single shared location, for example in a central officefor managing inventory and supply chain, while the weighing subsystem100 may be removably interfaced with the load carrying unit 30 orintegrated as part of the load carrying unit 30. In another example, theload weighing subsystem 100 and the load status subsystem 200 may beremovably interfaced with the load carrying unit 30 or integrated withthe load carrying unit 30 such that they are both carried by the loadcarrying unit 30.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, the weighing subsystem 100 includesa sensor arrangement 102 that includes a weight sensor 104 forcollecting data from the load carrying unit 30 to determine (i.e.,measure) the weight of the load of the merchandise 40, that is supportedby the load carrying unit 30, by providing electrical signals indicativeof weight. Although the weight sensor 104 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as asingle sensor, in certain embodiments the weight sensor 104 may berealized as more than one sensor for determining weight. The weightsensor 104 can be implemented in various ways, including for example, asa transducer that creates electrical signals having magnitude directlyproportional to the force applied to the weight sensor 104 (i.e., theweight being measured). Some of such transducer implementations arecommonly referred to as load cells, which can utilize piezoelectricmaterial to generate the voltage of the electrical signals.Alternatively, the weight sensor 104 may be implemented as a pressuresensor, which may also utilize transducers together with piezoelectricmaterial, to create electrical signals having magnitude directlyproportional to applied pressure.

It is noted herein that although the component for collecting data todetermine (i.e., measure) load weight is referred to as a weight sensor,within the context of this document, the term “weight sensor” generallyrefers to any device or sensor that can be used to measure or determinethe weight of an object, and should not be limited to a specificimplementation unless explicitly stated otherwise.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the weight sensor 104 is preferably retainedin a housing 101, such as a pad or the like, that includes an uppercontact surface 103 (e.g., a contact pad having a contact zone) ontowhich force is applied by the item to be weighed, and an oppositelydisposed bottom surface 105. The housing 101 allows physical attachmentof the sensor arrangement 102 to the load carrying unit 30, as will bediscussed in subsequent sections of the present disclosure.

The sensor arrangement 102 is coupled to a processing unit 106 thatincludes at least one processor 108 coupled to a storage medium 110 suchas a memory or the like. The processing unit 106 receives the electricalsignals produced by the weight sensor 104 and processes such signals toobtain the weight of the load of the merchandise 40 that is supported bythe load carrying unit 30. The processing unit 106 actuates acommunications module 112 of the weighing subsystem 100 to transmitsignals representative of the obtained weight to the load statussubsystem 200 in order to determine the stock status of the merchandise40. Description of the components of the load status subsystem 200 andthe process for determining the stock status of the merchandise 40 willbe provided in detail in subsequent sections of the present disclosure.

The weighing subsystem 100 further includes a clock 116, which can beutilized to provide time and/or date information to the components ofthe system 10, and in certain embodiments, is used by the processingunit 106 to time tag the data collected by the weight sensor 104. Apower supply 114, which may be implemented, for example, as a batterypower supply, provides power to the sensor arrangement 102, theprocessing unit 106, and the communications module 112. All of thecomponents of the weighing subsystem 100 are connected or linked to eachother (electronically and/or data) wither directly or indirectly.

According to certain embodiments, elements of the sensor arrangement102, in particular the weight sensor 104, are removably interfaced withthe load carrying unit 30 or integrated with the load carrying unit 30such that the load carrying unit 30 carries the weight sensor 104. Insuch embodiments, the weight sensor 104 is positioned relative to asurface of the load carrying unit 30, which may be an upper surface 32or a lower surface 34 of the load carrying unit 30, as illustrated inFIG. 7. As discussed above, the weight sensor 104 is positioned in ahousing 101 which allows physical attachment of the weight sensor 104 tothe appropriate surface of the load carrying unit 30.

The following paragraphs describe various configurations of the weightsensor 104 removably interfaced with the load carrying unit 30 orintegrated with the load carrying unit 30, and various deploymentconfigurations of the load carrying unit 30 in the retail display area74. In such configurations, the weight sensor 104 and the load carryingunit 30 move jointly as the weight sensor 104 is carried by the loadcarrying unit 30.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-7, refer now to FIGS. 8 and 9, thehousing 101 of the weight sensor 104 positioned relative to surfaces ofthe load carrying unit 30, according to an embodiment of the system 10of the present disclosure. In FIG. 8, the housing 101 of the weightsensor 104 is positioned on the upper surface 32 of the load carryingunit 30, which as illustrated in FIG. 7, defines a receiving surfaceonto which the merchandise 40, illustrated in a stacked arrangement ofmerchandise cases 42, is placed. The bottom surface 105 of the housing101 is removably interfaced with the top of the upper surface 32, whichin a non-limiting implementation is effectuated by resting the bottomsurface 105 of the housing 101 on top of the upper surface 32. Inanother embodiment, the weight sensor 104 is integrated with the loadcarrying unit 30 by securing the bottom surface 105 of the housing 101to the top of the upper surface 32, which in a non-limitingimplementation is made via adhesive bonding or the like. Theconfiguration renders the contact surface 103 as the receiving surfaceonto which the merchandise 40 is placed, and renders the lower surface34 as the surface of the load carrying unit 30 that is closest to, andis in contact with, the floor 50 of the retail display area 74 of thesales floor 72.

In FIG. 9, the housing 101 of the weight sensor 104 is positioned belowor under the lower surface 34 of the load carrying unit 30, which asillustrated in FIG. 7, typically defines a surface of the load carryingunit 30 that is closest to, and is in contact with, the floor 50. Thecontact surface 103 is removably interfaced with the bottom side of thelower surface 34, which in a non-limiting implementation, is effectuatedby placement of the housing 101 on the floor 50 and resting the bottomof the lower surface 34 on the contact surface 103. In anotherembodiment, the weight sensor 104 is integrated with the load carryingunit 30 by securing the bottom of the lower surface 34 on the contactsurface 103, which in a non-limiting implementation is made via adhesivebonding or the like. In such a configuration, portions of the loadcarrying unit 30 apply force to the contact surface 103. The merchandise40 received by the upper surface 32 applies an additional force to theload carrying unit 30 resulting in a total force applied by the loadcarrying unit 30 when loaded with the merchandise 40. The total combinedforce consists of the force applied by the load carrying unit 30 whenunloaded and the force applied by the merchandise 40. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the upper surface 32 defines the receiving surface onto whichthe merchandise 40 is placed, and the bottom surface 105 is the surfaceof the housing 101 that is closest to, and is in contact with, the floor50.

Note that in the configurations described above with reference to FIGS.8 and 9, the upper and lower surfaces 32, 34 may include apertures orslits, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D, potentially renderingthe upper and lower surfaces 32, 34 as non-contiguous surfaces.Alternatively, the load carrying unit 30 may be constructed frommultiple upper parallel portions, each portion having an upper surfacethat is co-planar with the upper surface of the other upper parallelportions. Similarly, the load carrying unit 30 may be constructed frommultiple lower parallel portions, each portion having a lower surfacethat is co-planar with the lower surface of the other lower parallelportions.

The embodiments of the system 10 as described thus far have pertained todeployment of the load carrying unit 30 on or above the floor 50 of aretail display area, however, other embodiments are possible in whichthe load carrying unit 30 is deployed in a recess of the floor 50, whichprovides a dedicated space in the retail display area for the loadcarrying unit 30 to be positioned. Refer now to FIGS. 10 and 11,deployment of the load carrying unit 30 in a recess 60 of the floor 50in the retail display area 74. The recess 60 is defined by a recessedsurface 62 and two side surfaces 64, 66. The recessed surface 62 is in aplane parallel to the floor 50 and at a depth relative to the floor 50of between approximately 5-30 centimeters (cm). The recess 60 and thefootprint of the load carrying unit 30 are correspondingly dimensioned,such that when the load carrying unit 30 is positioned in the recess 60,opposing sides 36, 38 of the load carrying unit 30 are proximate torespective side surfaces 66, 64 forming an abutment or a near abutmentwith respective side surfaces 66, 64.

In FIG. 10, the housing 101 of the weight sensor 104 is positioned onthe upper surface 32 of the load carrying unit 30, and the bottomsurface 105 of the housing 101 is removably interfaced with, or securedto the top of, the upper surface 32, similar to as described above withreference to FIG. 8. In addition, the lower surface 34 of the loadcarrying unit 30 is recessed in the floor 50 such that the lower surface34 is the surface of the load carrying unit 30 that is closest to, andis in contact with, the recessed surface 62.

In FIG. 11, the housing 101 of the weight sensor 104 is positioned belowor under the lower surface 34 of the load carrying unit 30, and thecontact surface 103 is secured to the bottom side of the lower surface34, similar to as described above with reference to FIG. 9. In addition,the bottom surface 105 is recessed in the floor 50 such that the bottomsurface 105 is the surface of the housing 101 that is closest to, and isin contact with, the recessed surface 62.

FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration similar to FIG. 11, except thehousing 101 is removably interfaced with the load carrying unit 30 bypositioning the housing 101 in the recess 60 independent from the loadcarrying unit 30. Therefore, the weight sensor 104 and can be maintainedin the recess 60 prior to positioning the load carrying unit 30 in therecess 60 or subsequent to removing the load carrying unit 30 from therecess 60.

Although embodiments are possible in which some or all of the componentsof the weighing subsystem 100, for example the weight sensor 104, areintegrated as part of the load carrying unit 30, such embodiments maynot be cost effective due to the need of weighing subsystem componentsper load carrying unit. Therefore, in preferred embodiments, the sameweighing subsystem 100 is deployed for use with multiple load carryingunits as individual load carrying units are removed from, and replacedin, the retail display area 74.

Note that the thickness of the housing 101 as depicted in FIGS. 8-12 isexaggerated, in order to more clearly illustrate the relativepositioning of the housing 101, the load carrying unit 30, the floor 50,and the recess 60. Further note that the housing 101, and in particularthe contact surface 103, is preferably dimensioned to correspond to theperimeter dimensions of the upper surface 32 and/or the lower surface 34of the load carrying unit 30, such that the weight of items positionedon any portion on the top side of the load carrying unit 30, eitherdirectly on the upper surface 32 or on contact surface 103, can beaccurately measured by the weight sensor 104. As mentioned above, incertain embodiments the weight sensor 104 may be realized as more thanone sensor for determining weight. In such embodiments, each of theweight sensors may be housed in a separate housing, with each housingbeing structurally similar to the housing 101. Groups of the weightsensors may be housed in a common housing. Each of the weight sensorsmay then be deployed in different positions relative to the loadcarrying unit 30 to cover the entire receiving surface onto which themerchandise 40 is placed. In such embodiments, the processing unit 106is preferably configured to perform functions to aggregate or combinethe electrical signals received from the weight sensors, to obtain theweight of the load of the merchandise 40 that is supported by the loadcarrying unit 30.

With continued reference to FIGS. 10-12, note that although the uppersurface 32 is shown extending above the level of the floor 50, the depthof the recess 60 and the height of the load carrying unit 30 may becorrespondingly configured, such that the upper surface 32 of the loadcarrying unit 30 and the floor 50 are level, or approximately level,when the load carrying unit 30 is positioned in the recess 60.

Alternatively, the depth of the recess 60 and the height of the loadcarrying unit 30 may be correspondingly configured, such that the uppersurface 32 of the load carrying unit 30 is several centimeters below thefloor 50, to allow customers to more easily access the merchandise 40,in particular the merchandise cases 42 at the top of a stack.

The following paragraphs describe the components of the load statussubsystem 200 and the stocking and control subsystem 300, as well as theprocesses for determining the loading status of the load carrying unit30.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, the load status subsystem 200includes a load status determination engine 202 coupled to acommunications module 208 that receives the obtained weight from thecommunications module 112 of the weighing subsystem 100. In embodimentsin which the weighing subsystem 100 and the load status subsystem 200are co-located, the communications modules 112, 208 may be implementedas interconnected data buses which allow the wired transfer ofinformation between the weighing subsystem 100 and the load statussubsystem 200. In embodiments in which the weighing subsystem 100 andthe load status subsystem 200 are connected via a wired communicationnetwork (i.e., the network 20 includes at least one wired network), thecommunications modules 112, 208 may be implemented to transmit andreceive data according to a wired communication protocol, which mayinclude, for example, wired Internet protocols (e.g., TCP/IP). Inembodiments in which the weighing subsystem 100 and the load statussubsystem 200 are connected via a wireless communication network (i.e.,the network 20 includes at least one wireless network, such as, forexample, a wireless LAN or cellular network), the communications modules112, 208 may be implemented to transmit and receive data according to awireless communication protocol, such as, for example, Wi-Fi (e.g.,IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, etc.), cellular network protocols (e.g., CDMA,GSM, etc.), and the like.

The load status determination engine 202 includes at least one processor204 coupled to a storage medium 206 such as a memory or the like. Notethat the processors 108, 204 can be any number of computer processors,including, but not limited to, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, anASIC, a DSP, and a state machine, configured to perform variousfunctions and processes, including one or more of the processesdescribed in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 14-16. Such processors include,or may be in communication with computer readable media, which storesprogram code or instruction sets that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to perform actions. Such instruction sets mayinclude, for example, instructions for executing one or more of theprocesses described in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 14-16. Types ofcomputer readable media include, but are not limited to, electronic,optical, magnetic, or other storage or transmission devices capable ofproviding a processor with computer readable instructions.

The load status determination engine 202 receives the obtained weight ofthe load from the weighing subsystem 100, via the communications modules112, 208, and determines a loading status of the load carrying unit 30based on the obtained weight of the load. The loading status of the loadcarrying unit 30 indicates a quantity of merchandise remaining on theload carrying unit 30 which may be provided in various formats, based oninformation pertaining to the load carrying unit 30 and/or themerchandise 40 supported by the load carrying unit 30.

The information may be stored in any type of storage mediums or device,and in certain embodiments is stored in a structured data format in oneor more databases, for example, the database 210. An example of the datarecords of the database 210 are illustrated in FIG. 13 as a table 1300of record entries. Note that although FIG. 4 illustrates the database210 as being part of the load status subsystem 200, the database 210 mayalternatively be included in the weighing subsystem 100 or the stockingand control subsystem 300, or may be separate from the weighingsubsystem 100, the load status subsystem 200 and the stocking andcontrol subsystem 300, and provided on a remote server (e.g., a cloudserver) that is accessible by the load status subsystem 200 through thenetwork 20.

Although not shown in the drawings, the load status subsystem 200 mayinclude a power supply, such as a battery power supply, for providingpower to the components of the load status subsystem 200. Note that allof the components of the load status subsystem 200 are connected orlinked to each other (electronically and/or data) wither directly orindirectly.

With reference to FIG. 13, according to certain embodiments, theinformation pertaining to the load carrying unit 30, stored in thedatabase 210, includes a load carrying unit identifier (ID) record 1302for identifying the specific load carrying unit, a sensor positionrecord 1304 indicating the position of the weight sensor 104 relative tothe load carrying unit 30 (e.g., on the upper surface 32 or below thelower surface 34), an unloaded weight record 1306 indicating theunloaded weight of the load carrying unit 30, and a fully-loaded weightrecord 1308 indicating the fully-loaded weight of the load carrying unit30. In embodiments in which the weight sensor 104 is positioned belowthe lower surface 34 of the load carrying unit 30 (e.g., in FIGS. 9, 11and 12), the weight 1306 may include the weight of the load carryingunit 30 itself, which may be used by the load status determinationengine 202 to normalize the weight of the load. The value in thefully-loaded weight record 1308 is typically a function of the size andmaterial of the load carrying unit 30 and may also depend on the type ofmerchandise supported by the load carrying unit 30. For example,standard wooden pallets of size 48 inches by 40 inches by 6 inches, havea static load bearing capacity of approximately 3 tons, which isslightly more than 2700 kilograms (kg). However, the fully-loaded weightof the load carrying unit 30 may be considerably less than the loadbearing capacity. In embodiments in which the merchandise 40 is abottled beverage product, for example stacked in an arrangement ofmerchandise cases 42 with each of the cases 42 holding six or morebottles, the fully-loaded weight is a function of the weight of eachcase 42 and the total number of cases loaded onto the load carrying unit30. For example, the standard wooden pallet with load bearing capacityof approximately 3 tons can comfortably support 100 bottled beveragecases 42, with each case holding six 2-liter bottles. With each liter ofliquid weighing approximately 1 kg, the fully-loaded weight of the loadcarrying unit 30 is approximately 1320 kg (including the weight of thebottles themselves and the packaging material of the cases 42), which isless than half of the static load bearing capacity.

The value in the fully-loaded weight record 1308 may be filled usinginformation pertaining to the merchandise 40 supported by, and displayedon, the load carrying unit 30. The information pertaining to themerchandise 40 includes a merchandise type record 1310 (e.g., beverage,cereal, etc.), a number of units record 1312 indicating the number ofunits initially displayed on the load carrying unit 30 when placed onthe sales floor, an items per unit record 1314 indicating the number ofitems per unit, a weight per unit record 1316, and a weight per itemrecord 1318.

With continued reference to FIG. 13, and using the example of themerchandise 40 being a bottled beverage product, the table 1300illustrates example data records for a row of entries. In the row ofentries, the load carrying unit ID record 1302 indicates that the loadcarrying unit ID is “P1”, and the sensor position record 1304 indicatesthat the weight sensor 104 is positioned on the upper surface 32 of theload carrying unit P1. The unloaded weight record 1306 indicates thatthe unloaded weight of load carrying unit P1 is 0 kg, while thefully-loaded weight record 1308 indicates that the fully-loaded weightof load carrying unit P1 is 1320 kg. The merchandise type record 1310indicates that the merchandise supported by load carrying unit P1 is abottled beverage product. The number of units record 1312 indicates thatat the time load carrying unit P1 was deployed on the sales floor, therewere 100 units (i.e., 100 boxes or cases) displayed on the load carryingunit. The items per unit record 1314 indicates that there are 6 items ina box or case (i.e., 6 bottles in a box or case) displayed on loadcarrying unit P1. The weight per unit record 1316 indicates that eachunit (i.e., each box or case) displayed on load carrying unit P1 weighsapproximately 13.2 kg, and the weight per item record 1318 indicatesthat each individual bottle displayed on load carrying unit P1 weighsapproximately 2 kg.

As can be seen from the entries in the table 1300, the database 210provides information used to create a mapping between weight and thenumber of units supported by the load carrying unit 30, based on therecord 1316. The load status determination engine 202 can utilize thismapping to specify the quantity of merchandise remaining on the loadcarrying unit 30 as a number of units remaining on the load carryingunit 30. The number of units remaining on the load carrying unit 30 isdetermined by the load status determination engine 202 based on theweight of the load received from the weighing subsystem 100 and themapping between weight and the number of units. For example, for loadcarrying unit P1, if the weighing system 100 determines a weight of 198kg, the load status determination engine 202 transforms the receivedweight of 198 kg to a number of units remaining on load carrying unit P1by utilizing the mapping which maps weight to the number of units. Inthe particular example illustrated in FIG. 13, the mapping maps every13.2 kg to a unit. As a result, the load status determining engine 202estimates that there are approximately (198 kg)/(13.2 kg/unit)=15 unitsremaining on load carrying unit P1. The database 210 may also provideinformation used to create a mapping between the weight and the numberof individual items supported by the load carrying unit 30, for example,based on the record 1318.

In certain embodiments, the load status determination engine 202specifies the quantity of merchandise remaining on the load carryingunit 30 as a percentage of merchandise remaining on the load carryingunit 30, based on the weight of the load received from the weighingsubsystem 100 and the unloaded weight of the load carrying unit 30 andthe fully-load weight of the load carrying unit 30 (i.e., the records1306 and 1308). For example, if the weighing system 100 determines aweight of 198 kg, the load status determination engine 202 transformsthe received weight of 198 kg to a percentage by dividing the receivedweight by the difference between the record 1308 and the record 1306. Inthe particular example illustrated in FIG. 13, a received weight of 198kg corresponds to (198 kg)/(1320 kg−0 kg)=15% of merchandise remainingon the load carrying unit 30.

According to certain embodiments, the load status determination engine202 compares the quantity of merchandise remaining on the load carryingunit 30 (as a number of units or as a percentage) with a threshold inorder to effectuate efficient re-stocking of the merchandise. Thisthreshold is referred to interchangeably as a re-stocking threshold. Inembodiments in which the load status determination engine 202 presentsthe quantity of merchandise remaining on the load carrying unit 30 as anumber of units remaining on the load carrying unit 30, the re-stockingthreshold is preferably set to a number of units or a percentage of thevalue in the record 1312. For example, the re-stocking threshold may beset to 25, or equivalently to 25% of the value in the record 1312 in thetable 1300. Continuing with the example above in which the load statusdetermining engine 202 estimates approximately 15 units remaining on theload carrying unit 30, the load status determining engine 202 comparesthe estimate of 15 units with the re-stocking threshold of 25. Inembodiments in which the load status determination engine 202 presentsthe quantity of merchandise remaining on the load carrying unit 30 as apercentage of merchandise remaining on the load carrying unit 30, there-stocking threshold is preferably set to a percentage of the value inthe record 1308. For example, the re-stocking threshold may be set to25% of the value in the record 1308, which corresponds to a weight of380 kg. Continuing with the example above in which the load statusdetermining engine 202 estimates 15% of merchandise remaining on theload carrying unit 30, the load status determining engine 202 comparesthe estimate of 15% units with the re-stocking threshold of 25%.

In certain embodiments, if the quantity of merchandise remaining on theload carrying unit 30 is below the re-stocking threshold, a re-stockingrequest is triggered by which the load status determination engine 202actuates the communications module 208 to send a re-stocking request toa communications module 302 of the stocking and control subsystem 300 inorder to re-stock the merchandise. Note that re-stocking the merchandisecan be effectuated in various ways, for example, by simply placingadditional cases or boxes of the merchandise 40 on the load carryingunit 30 when the quantity of remaining merchandise is below there-stocking threshold.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the system 10 of the presentdisclosure, the re-stocking is effectuated by replacing the entire loadcarrying unit with a new load carrying unit supporting and displayingnew merchandise.

Typically, the retail store 70 includes a pre-sale storage area 76,separated from the sales floor 72 by a doorway 78, for storingadditional merchandise stock, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Accordingly,upon receiving a re-stocking request from the load status subsystem 200,an operator, for example, an employee of the retail store 70, mayreceive an indication from the stocking and control subsystem 300 toretrieve additional stock form the pre-sale storage area 76 and placethe additional stock on the sales floor 72. The indication may beprovided in various ways, for example as a visual indication on a videomonitor or screen, or as an audio indication via a speaker or intercomsystem.

In some embodiments, the load status determination engine 202 maycompare the quantity of merchandise remaining on the load carrying unit30 to more than one threshold. For example, a first threshold, referredto interchangeably as a warning threshold, may be set to provide awarning or an indication of reduction in the quantity of merchandise,while a second threshold (i.e., the re-stocking threshold) may be set totrigger a request for re-stocking of the merchandise. The warningthreshold is typically set higher than the re-stocking threshold, and incertain embodiments, is set as an integer multiple of the re-stockingthreshold. Continuing with the examples above, the warning threshold maybe set, for example, to 50 units or 50% (i.e., 760 kg), which is twicethe re-stocking threshold presented in the above examples.

The thresholds utilized by the system 10 are stored in a storage mediumor database accessible by the system 10. In certain embodiments, thethresholds are stored in the storage medium 206 of the load statusdetermination engine 202, while in other embodiments, the thresholds arestored as additional records in the database 210 which are read by theload status determination engine 202 and stored in volatile memory priorto executing the threshold comparisons. Still yet in other embodiments,the thresholds are stored on a remote server (e.g., a cloud server) thatis accessible by the load status subsystem 200 through the network 20.

In embodiments in which the load status subsystem 200 and the stockingand control subsystem 300 are co-located, the communications modules208, 302 may be implemented as interconnected data buses which allow thewired transfer of information between the load status subsystem 200 andthe stocking and control subsystem 300. In embodiments in which the loadstatus subsystem 200 and the stocking and control subsystem 300 areconnected via a wired communication network (i.e., the network 20includes at least one wired network), the communications modules 208,302 may be implemented to transmit and receive data according to a wiredcommunication protocol, which may include, for example, wired Internetprotocols (e.g., TCP/IP). In embodiments in which the load statussubsystem 200 and the stocking and control subsystem 300 are connectedvia a wireless communication network (i.e., the network 20 includes atleast one wireless network, such as, for example, a wireless LAN orcellular network), the communications modules 208, 302 may beimplemented to transmit and receive data according to a wirelesscommunication protocol, such as, for example, Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE802.11b,IEEE802.11g, etc.), cellular network protocols (e.g., CDMA, GSM, etc.),and the like.

According to certain embodiments, the stocking and control subsystem 300includes a supply chain system 304, which maintains and manages shippingand logistics information pertaining to load carrying units loaded withmerchandise. The supply chain system 304 is typically a computerizedsystem having an operating system and processing hardware and software,and may provide supply chain information to the load status subsystem200, which can be used by the load status determination engine 202 toadjust the re-stocking threshold.

According to certain embodiments, the stocking and control subsystem 300includes an input module 306 allowing operators, for example, employeesof the retail store 70, to set parameters of the system 10, includingthe records 1302-1318 of the database 210 and the thresholds. The inputmodule 306 may be implemented as a computerized user interface system,that includes a computer or computer system, including an operatingsystem and processing hardware and software, as well as user inputdevices, such as, for example, a keyboard and mouse for providing inputto the computer system.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 14 which shows a flow diagramdetailing a process 1400 in accordance with embodiments of the presentlydisclosed subject matter. Reference is also made to the elements shownin FIGS. 1-13. One or more of the process and the sub-processes of FIG.14 are computerized processes performed by one or more of the weighingsubsystem 100, the load status subsystem 200 and the stocking andcontrol subsystem 300, including, for example, the processing unit 106,the load status determination engine 202, and associated components. Theaforementioned processes and sub-processes are for example, performedautomatically, but can be, for example, performed manually orsemi-manually.

Note that the process 1400 is iterative in nature, as the weighingsubsystem 100 can be configured to actuate the weight sensor 104 todetermine the weight of the load of merchandise at periodic orintermittent time intervals as customers remove the merchandise 40 fromthe load carrying unit 30. In certain embodiments, the time intervalscan be set by an operator (e.g., a retail store employee) of the system10, via the input module 306. In principle, the weight sensor 104 can beactuated to determine the weight of the load of merchandise at timeintervals as small as 5-10 seconds (i.e., weighing every 5-10 seconds),but in practice may be limited to a range between 1 minute at 1 hour.

The process 1400 begins at block 1402 where a load carrying unit, forexample the load carrying unit 30, supporting and displaying a load ofmerchandise, is deployed in the retail display area 74 of the salesfloor 72 in the retail store 70. The load carrying unit 30 may bepre-loaded with new merchandise and retrieved from the pre-sale storagearea 76, prior to deployment in the retail display area 74.Alternatively, the load carrying unit 30 may be loaded with newmerchandise in the pre-sale storage area 76 prior to deployment in theretail display area 74. Alternatively, the load carrying unit 30 may bedeployed in the retail display area 74 directly from a delivery truck.As described above with reference to FIGS. 8-12, the load carrying unit30 may be deployed directly on the floor 50 of the retail display area74 of the sales floor 72, or may be deployed in the recess 60 in thefloor 50.

The process 1400 then moves to block 1404, where the weighing subsystem100, and in particular the weight sensor 104, determines the weight ofthe load of merchandise. As mentioned above, the actuation of the weightsensor 104 may be according to a set time interval. In block 1406, thedetermined weight is sent (e.g., transmitted) from the weighingsubsystem 100, via the communications module 112, to the load statussubsystem 200, where in block 1408, the determined weight is received bythe load status subsystem 200, via the communications module 208. Afterblock 1408, the process 1400 moves to block 1410, where the load statussubsystem 200, in particular the load status determination engine 202,determined the loading status of the load carrying unit 30 based on thereceived determined weight. As discussed above, the loading statusindicates the quantity of merchandise remaining on the load carryingunit 30. The format of the loading status can be handled by the loadstatus determination engine 202 as a number of units remaining on theload carrying unit 30 or as a percentage of merchandise remaining on theload carrying unit 30. The format of the loading status may be selectedby an operator (e.g., a retail store employee) of the system 10, via theinput module 306.

The process 1400 then moves to block 1412, where the load statusdetermination engine 202 compares the loading status with there-stocking threshold to determine if the loading status satisfies are-stocking threshold criterion. Note that the format of the loadingstatus and the format of the re-stocking threshold are linked, such thatonce the format of one is selected, via the input module 306 forexample, the format of the other is also selected, automatically, toensure that the loading status and the re-stocking threshold are in thesame format.

If the loading status is below the re-stocking threshold, there-stocking threshold criterion is satisfied, and the process 1400 movesto block 1414, where the load status determination engine 202 actuatesthe communications module 208 to send a re-stocking request to thecommunications module 302 of the stocking and control subsystem 300. Theprocess 1400 then moves to block 1402, where a new load carrying unit,supporting and displaying a new load of merchandise, is deployed in theretail display area 74. In block 1412, if the loading status is abovethe re-stocking threshold, the re-stocking threshold criterion is notsatisfied, and the process 1400 returns to block 1404.

As discussed above, in some embodiments, the load status determinationengine 202 may compare the quantity of merchandise remaining on the loadcarrying unit 30 to more than one threshold, specifically the warningthreshold and the re-stock threshold. Attention is now directed to FIG.15 which shows a flow diagram detailing a process 1500 in accordancewith such embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. Blocks1502-1510 of the process 1500 correspond to blocks 1402-1410 of theprocess 1400, and should be understood by analogy thereto. Therefore,the details of blocks 1502-1510 will not be repeated here.

With attention directed to block 1510, the process 1500 moves from block1510 to block 1516, where the load status determination engine 202compares the loading status with the warning threshold to determine ifthe loading status satisfies a warning threshold criterion. Note that insuch embodiments, the format of the loading status, the format of there-stocking threshold, and the format of the warning threshold arelinked, such that once the format of one is selected, via the inputmodule 306 for example, the format of the others are also selected,automatically, to ensure that the loading status and the thresholds arein the same format.

If the loading status is above the warning threshold, the warningthreshold criterion is not satisfied, and the process 1500 returns toblock 1504. If the loading status is below the warning threshold, thewarning threshold criterion is satisfied, and the process 1500 moves toblock 1512, where the load status determination engine 202 compares theloading status with the re-stocking threshold to determine if theloading status satisfies a re-stocking threshold criterion. If theloading status is below the re-stocking threshold, the re-stockingthreshold criterion is satisfied, and the process 1500 moves to block1514, where the load status determination engine 202 actuates thecommunications module 208 to send a re-stocking request to thecommunications module 302 of the stocking and control subsystem 300. Theprocess 1500 then moves to block 1502, where a new load carrying unit,supporting and displaying a new load of merchandise, is deployed in theretail display area 74.

Returning to block 1512, if the loading status is above the re-stockingthreshold, the re-stocking threshold criterion is not satisfied, and theprocess 1500 moves to block 1518, where the load status determinationengine 202 actuates a linked or connected system to provide a warning oran indication of reduction in the quantity of merchandise. The warningor indication may be provided in various ways, for example as a visualindication on a video monitor or screen, or as an audio indication via aspeaker or intercom system. The process 1500 then returns to block 1504.

As should be apparent, the embodiments of the system 10 of the presentdisclosure should not be limited to the load status determination engine202 comparing the quantity of merchandise remaining on the pallet 30 toone or two thresholds, and embodiments are possible in which the loadstatus determination engine 202 is configured to compare the quantity ofmerchandise remaining on the pallet 30 to multiple warning thresholdsspaced at even or varying intervals.

Although embodiments of the system 10 as described thus far havepertained to the load status determination engine 202 performingcomparisons of the quantity of merchandise remaining on the loadcarrying unit 30 to one or more thresholds to trigger a re-stockingrequest, other embodiments are possible in which additional comparisonmeasures and/or thresholds are utilized to more effectively controlre-stocking of the merchandise.

In one such embodiment, the load status determination engine 202 isconfigured to determine a load depletion rate of the load carrying unit30. As mentioned above, the clock 116 provides time and/or dateinformation which is used by the processing unit 106 to time tag thedata collected by the weight sensor 104. As such, for each actuation ofthe weight sensor 104, the load status determination engine 202 receivesboth a measured weight and a time stamp associated with the measuredweight. For clarity, the received measured weight is referred tohereinafter as a weight sample, and the time stamp associated with theweight sample is referred to hereinafter as a time sample. As the loadstatus subsystem 200 receives weight samples from the weighing subsystem100, the load status determination engine 202 calculates the loaddepletion rate based on the change between weight samples and theelapsed time between the associated time samples. For example, if aftera first actuation of the weight sensor 104 a weight of W₁ is measured ata time of T₁, and after a second actuation of the weight sensor 104 aweight of W₂ is measured at a time of T₂, the load depletion rate can becalculated as |W₂−W₁|/|T₂−T₁|. The load depletion rate typically hasunits of unit weight per unit time, for example, kg per hour, but mayalso have units of percentage of the fully-loaded weight per unit time.

As should be apparent, the load depletion rate can be calculated usingmultiple, i.e., more than two, samples, to generate an average loaddepletion rate.

The load depletion rate may be used in conjunction with the re-stockingthreshold comparison methodology described above with reference to FIGS.14 and 15 in order to hasten or delay the triggering of re-stockingrequests. For example, in the process 1400 of FIG. 14, the load statusdetermination engine 202 actuates the communications module 208 to senda re-stocking request if the loading status is below the re-stockingthreshold, and does not actuate the communications module 208 to send are-stocking request if the loading status is above the re-stockingthreshold. However, if the load depletion rate is considerably low, theneed for re-stocking may not be urgent, even if the loading status isbelow the re-stocking threshold Similarly, if the load depletion rate isconsiderably high, the need for re-stocking may be urgent, even if theloading status is above the re-stocking threshold. For example, if theload status determination engine 202 receives a measured weight of 198kg from the weighing subsystem 100 (which is below the re-stockingthreshold), but the load depletion rate is determined to be 10 kg perhour, a re-stocking request may not be triggered. Conversely, if theload depletion rate is determined to be 50 kg per hour, a re-stockingrequest may be immediately triggered. In an additional example, if theload status determination engine 202 receives a measured weight of 396kg from the weighing subsystem 100 (which is well above the re-stockingthreshold), but the load depletion rate is determined to be 100 kg perhour, a re-stocking request may be immediately triggered.

As such, in embodiments in which the load status determination engine202 is configured to determine the load depletion rate of the loadcarrying unit 30, the load status determination engine 202 utilizes theload depletion rate, preferably in addition to the re-stockingthreshold, to trigger re-stocking requests, based on a comparison to aload depletion rate threshold. The load depletion rate threshold may bea dynamic threshold which changes as a function of the weight sample andthe re-stocking threshold.

The above described load depletion rate may be one of multiple featuresused by the load status determination engine 202 to effectuatere-stocking triggering. Additional features may include, but are notlimited to, time of day (supplied by the clock 116) relative to theoperating hours of the retail store 70, weekday versus weekend shoppingpatterns, shopper occupancy level in the retail store 70, and externalinfluences such as, for example, special promotions, weather, sportingevents and/or concerts and/or festivals in proximity to the retail store70. In certain embodiments, the load status determination engine 202 isconfigured to receive data descriptive of some or all of theabove-mentioned features, and utilize the received data via dataprocessing techniques in combination with one or more of thethresholding and load depletion rate methodologies described above. Forexample, if the load status determination engine 202 receives a measuredweight that corresponds to a loading status below the re-stockingthreshold, but also receives time of day data indicating that the retailstore 70 is closed, the re-stocking request may be delayed or given alower re-stocking priority. In addition, the data descriptive of suchfeatures may be used to adjust the re-stocking thresholds. For example,if the load status determination engine 202 receives data indicatingthat shopping volume increases by 25% on weekends compared to weekdays,and receives time of day data indicating a weekend, the re-stockingthreshold may be raised to account for the increased shopping volume.

As discussed above, in order to exploit features to affect re-stockingdecisions, in certain embodiments the load status determination engine202 is configured to receive data descriptive of such features. As such,the system 10 is preferably connected to various data collectioninstruments or channels in order to properly receive such data. Forexample, in order to receive data related to sales history or weekdayversus weekend shopping patterns, the system 10 may be connected to apoint of sale (PoS) or point of purchase (PoP) system of the retailstore 70, which performs and tracks retail transactions. As a furtherexample, in order to receive data related to the shopper occupancy levelin the retail store 70, the system 10 may be connected to a sensor orsurveillance system deployed in the retail store 70 which can providedata from which occupancy estimates can be derived. For example, retailstores commonly use CCTV systems based on video cameras deployedthroughout the retail store to provide video surveillance for securitypurposes. The video images collected by the CCTV system may be receivedby one or more of the processing systems of the system 10 (e.g., theprocessing unit 106 and/or the load status determination engine 202) toextract an occupancy estimate. As a further example, in order to receivedata related to external influences (e.g., special promotions, weather,sporting events and/or concerts and/or festivals in proximity to theretail store 70), the system 10 may be connected, via the network 20, toone or more web servers that host web sites that provide information andcontent on such external influences.

As should be apparent to those skilled in the art, one or more of theabove-mentioned features can be combined and used in conjunction withthe aforementioned loading status thresholding methodology to enhancere-stocking effectiveness. Furthermore, the data descriptive of any ofthe above-mentioned features can be processed using artificialintelligence engines or statistical algorithms that utilize saleshistory or other historical data. In certain embodiments, statisticallearning algorithms, which may be supervised or unsupervised, may beimplemented to enhance the effectiveness of such features. The datadescriptive of any of the above-mentioned features, and any thresholdsassociated with such features, are stored in a storage medium ordatabase accessible by the system 10. In certain embodiments, such dataand associated thresholds are stored in the storage medium 206 of theload status determination engine 202, while in other embodiments, suchdata and associated thresholds are stored as additional records in thedatabase 210 which are read by the load status determination engine 202and stored in volatile memory prior to executing the thresholdcomparisons. Still yet in other embodiments, such data and associatedthresholds are stored on a remote server (e.g., a cloud server) that isaccessible by the load status subsystem 200 through the network 20.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 16 which shows a flow diagramdetailing a process 1600 in accordance with embodiments of the presentlydisclosed subject matter. Reference is also made to the elements shownin FIGS. 1-15. As with the processes and sub-processes of FIGS. 14 and15, one or more of the process and the sub-processes of FIG. 16 arecomputerized processes performed by one or more of the weighingsubsystem 100, the load status subsystem 200 and the stocking andcontrol subsystem 300, including, for example, the processing unit 106,the load status determination engine 202, and associated components. Theaforementioned processes and sub-processes are for example, performedautomatically, but can be, for example, performed manually orsemi-manually. In the process 1600, blocks 1602-1610 correspond toblocks 1402-1410 and 1502-1510 of the processes 1400 and 1500,respectively, and should be understood by analogy thereto. Therefore,the details of blocks 1602-1610 will not be repeated here.

With attention directed to block 1610, the process 1600 moves from block1610 to block 1612, where the load status determination engine 202determines one or more values associated with the above-mentionedfeatures. The values are extracted or calculated from data descriptiveof features received by the load status determination engine 202. In anon-limiting implementation, the data is the weight sample and timesample data, and the value is the calculated load depletion rate. Theprocess 1600 then moves to block 1614, where the load statusdetermination engine 202 compares the loading status with there-stocking threshold to determine if the loading status satisfies are-stocking threshold criterion. Note that block 1614 is generallysimilar to block 1412 of the process 1400. In block 1614, if the loadingstatus is above the re-stocking threshold, the re-stocking thresholdcriterion is not satisfied, and the process 1600 returns to block 1604.

In block 1614, if the loading status is below the re-stocking threshold,the re-stocking threshold criterion is not satisfied, and the process1600 moves to block 1616, where the load status determination engine 202compares the value determined in block 1612 with a feature threshold. Inthe non-limiting implementation in which the value is the load depletionrate, the feature threshold in block 1616 is a load depletion ratethreshold. In block 1616, if the value is above the feature threshold,the feature threshold criterion is satisfied, and the process 1600 movesto block 1618, where the load status determination engine 202 actuatesthe communications module 208 to send a re-stocking request to thecommunications module 302 of the stocking and control subsystem 300. Ifthe value is below the feature threshold, the feature thresholdcriterion is not satisfied, and the process 1600 returns to block 1604.Note that although not shown in FIG. 16, if in block 1614 the loadingstatus is above the re-stocking threshold, the process 1600 may move toblock 1616, to account features which may contribute to more urgentre-stocking of the merchandise 40.

It is important to note that although block 1612 is illustrated as asingle block that extracts or calculates a value from received data,block 1612 may represent the extraction or calculation of multiplevalues from various sets of received data. For example, block 1612 mayperform the calculation of the load depletion rate, as well asextraction of information indicative of the time of day and the shopperoccupancy level in the retail store 70. Similarly, although block 1616is illustrated as a single block that performs a single thresholdcomparison, block 1616 may represent multiple threshold comparisons, theoutcomes of which may be combined, averaged or weighted, to form anoverall comparison outcome. For example, block 1616 may compare acalculated load depletion rate with a load depletion threshold, andsubsequently or in parallel compare an extracted time of day with theopening hours of the retail store 70 and an occupancy threshold.

As a result of the execution of the process 1600, the load statusdetermination engine 202 is able to control the transmission ofre-stocking requests based on certain events. In view of the abovedescribed processes 1400, 1500 and 1600, such events include, forexample, the loading status being below a re-stocking threshold level,the load depletion rate being above or below a load depletion ratethreshold, a time of day being during or outside of operating hours ofthe retail store 70, a number of occupants in the retail store 70 beingabove or below an occupancy threshold, occurrences of specialpromotions, weather events, sporting events and/or concerts and/orfestivals in proximity to the retail store 70, and time of day and/orday of week shopping patterns.

Note that the process 1600 may be modified to base the re-stockingrequests only on the extracted or calculated values and comparisonexecuted in blocks 1612 and 1616, and not on the comparison of theloading status with the re-stocking threshold in block 1614. Forexample, in the non-limiting implementation in which the value is theload depletion rate and the feature threshold in block 1616 is a loaddepletion rate threshold, the process 1600 may be modified to relysolely on the load depletion rate for triggering re-stocking requests.

Alternatively, the process 1600 may be modified to perform blocks inorder different than illustrated in FIG. 16. In one example alternative,the process 1600 may move from block 1610 to block 1614, which may moveto block 1604 or block 1612 depending on the decision outcome of block1614. Block 1612 may then move to block 1616. In another examplealternative, the dependency of the blocks may be changed such thatdecision block 1616 is executed before block 1614. For example, theprocess 1600 may move from block 1612 to block 1616, which may move toblock 1604 or block 1614 depending on the decision outcome of block1616. Block 1614 may then move to block 1604 or block 1618, depending onthe decision outcome of block 1614.

As should be apparent to those skilled in the art, the processes andsub-processes illustrated in FIGS. 14-16 may be combined and modifiedwith each other in order to adjust or modify the re-stocking requeststriggers.

Although embodiments of the system 10 as described thus far havepertained to a weighing subsystem that measures the weight of a loadsupported by a load carrying unit, and provides the measured weight to aload status subsystem in order to determine a loading status of the loadcarrying unit, other embodiments are possible in which a plurality ofweighing subsystems, each coupled to one or more different load carryingunits, are deployed to provide measured weight of different respectiveloads to the load status subsystem.

Refer now to FIG. 17, a block diagram of a collection of weighingsubsystems 100-1, 100-2, and 100-N connected to the load statussubsystem 200 and the stocking and control subsystem 300. The structureand operation of each of the weighing subsystems 100-1, 100-2, and 100-Nis generally similar to that of the weighing subsystem 100, and shouldbe understood by analogy thereto. Although not illustrated in FIG. 17,the connections between the weighing subsystems 100-1, 100-2, and 100-N,the load status subsystem 200, and the stocking and control subsystem300 may be performed over a network, for example, the network 20,similar to as illustrated in FIG. 5. Also note that the depiction ofthree weighing subsystems in FIG. 17 is for illustration purposes only,and in principle the number of weighing subsystems may be on the orderof tens, hundreds or thousands.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17, each of the weighingsubsystems 100-1, 100-2, and 100-N may include a unique identifier foridentifying a particular weighing subsystem, and the database 210 mayinclude the unique identifiers as an additional data record. In thisway, the load status subsystem 200 is able to determine the loadingstatus, and perform the thresholding and re-stocking described in theprocesses 1400, 1500, and 1600 in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, respectively,uniquely for each of the weighing subsystems 100-1, 100-2, and 100-N.

Although embodiments of the system 10 as described thus far havepertained to a weighing system 100 having a sensor arrangement 102 thatincludes one or more weight sensors 104, other embodiments are possiblein which the sensor arrangement includes various types of sensors, whereeach of the sensors is operative to measure or determine a differentfeature related to the load carrying unit 30 and/or the merchandise 40.For example, the sensor arrangement 102 may include a tilt sensorintegrated with the load carrying unit 30 for measuring the tilt, forexample as an angle, relative to the plane of the floor 50. The tiltsensor may be implemented in various ways, for example, as anaccelerometer. In an additional example, the sensor arrangement 102 mayinclude a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature in thevicinity of the load carrying unit 30. The temperature sensor may beimplemented in various ways, for example, as a thermistor.

The above mentioned additional sensors provide electrical signalsindicative of measured values which may be provided to the processingunit 106 for processing. Such processing may include analyzing themeasured values to determine if the measured values are within aspecified tolerance. For example, the processing unit 106 may determine,as a result of the analyzing, whether the load carrying unit 30 ispositioned at an incline based on the measurements from the tilt sensor,or whether the temperature in the vicinity of the load carrying unit 30is outside of a preferred storage range for the merchandise supported bythe load carrying unit 30.

Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of theinvention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually,automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actualinstrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or systemof the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented byhardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof usingan operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according toembodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or acircuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of theinvention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructionsbeing executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according toexemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein areperformed by a data processor, such as a computing platform forexecuting a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processorincludes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or anon-volatile storage, for example, non-transitory storage media such asa magnetic hard-disk and/or removable media, for storing instructionsand/or data. Optionally, a network connection is provided as well. Adisplay and/or a user input device such as a keyboard or mouse areoptionally provided as well.

For example, any combination of one or more non-transitory computerreadable (storage) medium(s) may be utilized in accordance with theabove-listed embodiments of the present invention. The non-transitorycomputer readable (storage) medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

The block diagrams in the drawings illustrate the architecture,functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems,devices, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

As used herein, the singular form, “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from otherembodiments.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

The processes (methods) and systems, including components thereof,herein have been described with exemplary reference to specific hardwareand software. The processes (methods) have been described as exemplary,whereby specific steps and their order can be omitted and/or changed bypersons of ordinary skill in the art to reduce these embodiments topractice without undue experimentation. The processes (methods) andsystems have been described in a manner sufficient to enable persons ofordinary skill in the art to readily adapt other hardware and softwareas may be needed to reduce any of the embodiments to practice withoutundue experimentation and using conventional techniques.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. An inventory management system, comprising: afloor-based weighing subsystem comprising a sensor arrangement includingat least one weight sensor functionally associated with a load carryingunit supporting a load having an associated weight, the load carryingunit deployed at the floor of a retail display area, and the weightsensor determining the weight of the load; and a load status subsystemcomprising a load status determination engine including at least oneprocessor coupled to a storage medium, the load status determinationengine configured to: receive, from the floor-based weighing subsystem,the weight of the load determined by the weight sensor, determine aloading status of the load carrying unit based on the received weight ofthe load, send a request to replace the load carrying unit in responseto at least one event, wherein the at least one event includes thedetermined loading status of the load carrying unit satisfying athreshold criterion, and determine a load depletion rate based on thedetermined loading status.
 4. The inventory management system of claim3, wherein the at least one event further includes the load depletionrate satisfying a threshold criterion.
 5. The inventory managementsystem of claim 3, wherein the at least one event is derived from atleast one of temporal data associated with the retail display area,temporal data associated with the location of the retail display area,and occupancy of the retail display area.
 6. The inventory managementsystem of claim 3, wherein the weight sensor is carried by a surface ofthe load carrying unit.
 7. The inventory management system of claim 6,wherein the surface of the load carrying unit is a furthest surface ofthe load carrying unit from the floor.
 8. The inventory managementsystem of claim 6, wherein the surface of the load carrying unit is anearest surface of the load carrying unit to the floor.
 9. The inventorymanagement system of claim 3, wherein at least one surface of the loadcarrying unit is positioned in a recess in the floor, the recess definedin part by a recess surface.
 10. The inventory management system ofclaim 9, wherein the weight sensor is interposed between the recesssurface and the at least one surface of the load carrying unit.
 11. Theinventory management system of claim 9, wherein the weight sensor ispositioned outside of the recess.
 12. The inventory management system ofclaim 3, wherein the weight sensor is positioned in a recess in thefloor defined in part by a recess surface.
 13. The inventory managementsystem of claim 3, further comprising: a stocking and control subsystemconfigured to receive, from the load status subsystem, an actuationcommand to take at least one action in response to the determinedloading status of the load carrying unit.
 14. The inventory managementsystem of claim 3, further comprising a database storing weightinformation associated with the load and the load carrying unit.
 15. Theinventory management system of claim 14, wherein the weight informationassociated with the load carrying unit includes an unloaded weight ofthe load carrying unit and a fully-loaded weight of the load carryingunit.
 16. The inventory management system of claim 14, wherein theweight information associated with the load includes a list of loadtypes, and for each load type, a mapping between weight and a number ofunits of the load.
 17. The inventory management system of claim 14,wherein the load status determination engine is further configured to:receive, from the database, weight information associated with the loadand the load carrying unit.
 18. The inventory management system of claim17, wherein the weight information associated with the load carryingunit includes an unloaded weight of the load carrying unit and afully-loaded weight of the load carrying unit, and wherein the loadingstatus of the load carrying unit is determined, by the load statusdetermination engine, as a percentage based on the unloaded weight andthe fully-loaded weight of the load carrying unit.
 19. The inventorymanagement system of claim 17, wherein the weight information associatedwith the load includes a list of load types, and for each load type, amapping between weight and a number of units of the load, and whereinthe loading status of the load carrying unit is determined, by the loadstatus determination engine, by correlating the weight of the load withthe number of units of the load based on the mapping.
 20. The inventorymanagement system of claim 3, wherein the load includes a bottledbeverage product. 21-23. (canceled)
 24. An inventory management system,comprising: a floor-based weighing subsystem comprising a sensorarrangement including at least one weight sensor functionally associatedwith a load carrying unit supporting a load having an associated weight,the load carrying unit deployed at the floor of a retail display area,and the weight sensor determining the weight of the load, wherein atleast one surface of the load carrying unit is positioned in a recess inthe floor, the recess defined in part by a recess surface; and a loadstatus subsystem comprising a load status determination engine includingat least one processor coupled to a storage medium, the load statusdetermination engine configured to: receive, from the floor-basedweighing subsystem, the weight of the load determined by the weightsensor, and determine a loading status of the load carrying unit basedon the received weight of the load.
 25. The inventory management systemof claim 24, wherein the weight sensor is interposed between the recesssurface and the at least one surface of the load carrying unit.
 26. Theinventory management system of claim 24, wherein the weight sensor ispositioned outside of the recess.
 27. An inventory management system,comprising: a floor-based weighing subsystem comprising a sensorarrangement including at least one weight sensor functionally associatedwith a load carrying unit supporting a load having an associated weight,the load carrying unit deployed at the floor of a retail display area,and the weight sensor determining the weight of the load, wherein theweight sensor is positioned in a recess in the floor defined in part bya recess surface; and a load status subsystem comprising a load statusdetermination engine including at least one processor coupled to astorage medium, the load status determination engine configured to:receive, from the floor-based weighing subsystem, the weight of the loaddetermined by the weight sensor, and determine a loading status of theload carrying unit based on the received weight of the load.
 28. Aninventory management system, comprising: a floor-based weighingsubsystem comprising a sensor arrangement including at least one weightsensor functionally associated with a load carrying unit supporting aload having an associated weight, the load carrying unit deployed at thefloor of a retail display area, and the weight sensor determining theweight of the load; a database storing weight information associatedwith the load and the load carrying unit; and a load status subsystemcomprising a load status determination engine including at least oneprocessor coupled to a storage medium, the load status determinationengine configured to: receive, from the floor-based weighing subsystem,the weight of the load determined by the weight sensor, receive, fromthe database, weight information associated with the load and the loadcarrying unit, wherein the weight information associated with the loadcarrying unit includes an unloaded weight of the load carrying unit anda fully-loaded weight of the load carrying unit, and determine a loadingstatus of the load carrying unit based on the received weight of theload, wherein the loading status of the load carrying unit is determinedas a percentage based on the unloaded weight and the fully-loaded weightof the load carrying unit.